FnM dismisses inflation as main concern
Staff Reporter :
Finance Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali downplayed the rising concerns about inflation in the country, stating that it cannot be considered the primary issue on people’s minds.
The remarks were made while talking to the journalists following his participation in the Deputy Commissioners’ (DCs) conference, where discussions encompassed various aspects of governance and development.
When questioned about the conference’s approach to tackling inflation, Minister Ali expressed scepticism, asking, “Has this become the only concern now, nothing else?”
He emphasised that the government has distributed family cards to ten million people, enabling them to access essential commodities at lower costs.
Minister Ali asserted, “We are at our highest point since independence,” pointing to positive economic indicators. He refuted claims of stagnation, highlighting ongoing development projects like Metro Rail and the nation’s progress towards the Delta 2100 plan.
The State Minister for Planning, Md. Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, added that politics and development cannot always adhere to mathematical calculations. Projects are initiated based on certain considerations, and while errors may occur, it is essential to have the openness and courage to admit mistakes.
Addressing concerns about projects being undertaken without thorough feasibility studies, Minister Sarkar acknowledged the possibility of mistakes but stressed the importance of understanding that politics and development often involve calculated risks.
He mentioned that there are now directives from the prime minister to conduct feasibility studies before initiating projects, acknowledging the need for more careful selection.
During the briefing to the media, State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan, who emphasised the importance of prioritising projects according to the Bangladesh Awami League’s election manifesto, She noted that austerity measures were discussed at the DCs’ conference, with a focus on aligning project implementation with the party’s priorities.
